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Monday, May 8, 2006 - 8:30 AM
MEM1.8

Endodontic Instruments with Improved Fatigue Resistance

C. J. Berendt, Sportswire L.L.C., Langley, OK; J. Yang, Global Nitinol Technologies, Saratoga, CA


 

November 7, 2005

 
 
SMST – 2006 in Asilomar
 

Subject: Endodontic Instruments with Improved Fatigue Resistance

A paper submitted by:  Carl J. Berendt
 

ABSTRACT:

Fatigue fracture is problematic in endodontic instruments. Improvements in fatigue resistance of Nitinol are desirable to provide increased fatigue life and fatigue life predictability.
 
Endondontic instruments made from Energetically Stable Martensitic stock meets and exceeds the industry specifications for these instruments and have an usable life up to 7 times longer than Austenitic files and reamers.
 
Material Composition: Nickel 55.8 +/- 1.5 wt.%. Titanium 44.2 +/- 1.5 wt.%
Trace Elements include: Fe, Cr, Cu, Co, 0, H, C, less than 1% wt total.
T.T.R. –5 to –15 Centigrade. Measured at Ingot. 

Mechanical Properties: 1 mm diam. .0394 to .0400
Austenitic: UTS 191,950 , Strain 13 %, Upper Plt. 79,760,UTS/Up.Plt. relationship 2.41
Martensetic: UTS 224,660 , Strain 14.05%, Upper Plt. 78,870 , UTS/Up.Plt. Relationship 2.85

Efficacy:

Cyclical Fatigue Testing NITI S/E Blanks vs NITI Martensite: Parts cycled @720 deflections per min. until destruction. 

Group 1 AUSTENITE: 10 parts drawn from 60 pcs. 64.8 seconds Avg.

Group 2 AUSTENITE: 10 parts drawn from 60 pcs. 102.2 seconds Avg.

Group 1 MARTENSITE: 10 parts drawn from 60 pcs. 560.3 seconds Avg.

Group 2 MARTENSITE: 10 parts drawn from 60 pcs. 564.4 seconds Avg.

Finished Endodontic Instrument Cyclical Fatigue Testing: Parts Rotated and deflected around a 11.5 MM mandrel.  Instrument rotated @ 300 rpm ran wet @ 37 C.

Group 1 AUSTENITE: 10 parts tested from a group of 60 pcs. 86.6 seconds Avg.

Group 2 AUSTENITE: 10 parts tested from a group of 60 pcs. 84.8 seconds Avg.

Group 1 MARTENSITE: 10 parts tested from a group of 60 pcs. 260 seconds Avg.

Group 2 MARTENSITE: 10 parts tested from a group of 60 pcs. 262 seconds Avg.


 
 Credits:
Expert: Dr. Jianhua (Jay) Yang
Mentoring: John Dicello  NDC
                   Dr. Allan Pelton  NDC and SMST
 
 
Carl J. Berendt, General Manager SPORTSWIRE LLC.

P.O. 697, 39026 S. Hwy. 82, Langley, OK. 74350

E – mail: cberendt@sportswirellc.com

Summary: The instrument and method to make it involves thermal rearrangement and stabilization of cold-working-induced martensite such that the nitinol part is at least partially in a martensitic state thermodynamically at operating temperatures, with the Af temperature of nitinol, measured by DSC, being above the part's operating temperature and that the UTS to upper plateau stress ratio in a tensile test being 2.8 or higher. The martensetic version has less cold work, approx. 5% less and after thermal stabilization poses all of the necessary shape memory and strength requirements for a dental instrument. The martensitic alloy has reduced incidences of stress concentration thereby contributing to the improved fatigue resistance characteristics of the material.